With a reported 14,000 barrels of leaked oil, the current Keystone Pipeline leak is about 50% larger than its prior two largest leaks. Both occurred after the Pipeline became fully operational. Thursday evening, Reuters reported the Pipeline had leaked crude oil into a creek in Washington County, Kansas. TC Energy shut down the Pipeline at about 8 pm CST … [Read more...] about A record-setting leak: the Keystone Pipeline mess in context
Volodymyr Zelensky and ‘the Spirit of Ukraine’ Time’s 2022 Person of the Year
In announcing that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is Time magazine’s 2022 Person of the Year, Edward Felsenthal, Time’s Editor in Chief, writes that the process of choosing the Person of the Year “can be agonizing.” He asks, “How could one person represent an entire year? Do we lean into the light, reach into the darkness, or land somewhere in between?” When I … [Read more...] about Volodymyr Zelensky and ‘the Spirit of Ukraine’ Time’s 2022 Person of the Year
‘Independent state legislature doctrine,’ now before Supreme Court, could reverse 200 years of progress in giving more say over elections to the people
All adult citizens who have not been convicted of a crime have the right to vote in federal and state elections. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Henry L. Chambers Jr., University of Richmond In a case to be heard on Dec. 7, 2022, Moore v. Harper, the U.S. Supreme Court could decide that state legislatures have control over congressional … [Read more...] about ‘Independent state legislature doctrine,’ now before Supreme Court, could reverse 200 years of progress in giving more say over elections to the people
Highest Honors Bestowed Two Years Later, Notwithstanding 21 Deniers
Today, standing in the same stately Capitol Rotunda where, on January 6, insurrectionists marched through after beating, trampling, crushing and seriously injuring dozens of law enforcement officers defending the Capitol, and Democracy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, honored the January 6 heroes with Congress’ highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. “January 6 was a day … [Read more...] about Highest Honors Bestowed Two Years Later, Notwithstanding 21 Deniers
Waste Management Technologies: A Game Changer for Industries
Each person generates about 5 pounds of waste in a single day, which will likely continue as the population grows. As such, industries are finding it challenging to manage waste production, especially since there’s an urgent need to reduce the effects of climate change. Thankfully, waste management has improved over the last few years. There have been many creative methods … [Read more...] about Waste Management Technologies: A Game Changer for Industries
KING THRONE SCEPTER
Donald Trump has called for terminating the United Constitution and he’s basing this on the release of the so-called Twitter Files. Let’s back up. Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. He tried to steal it after he lost it. He spread a dozen conspiracy theories and his lawyers lost over 60 court cases in multiple states trying to overturn the election he fairly lost. He and … [Read more...] about KING THRONE SCEPTER
Georgia runoff elections are exciting, but costly for voters and democracy
Sen. Raphael Warnock, the incumbent Democrat, is up against Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a runoff election to choose who will represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. AP Photo John A. Tures, LaGrange College In Georgia, if no candidate receives 50% of the general election vote for a statewide or congressional district race, there’s a runoff … [Read more...] about Georgia runoff elections are exciting, but costly for voters and democracy
Why news media should report that a former president wants to ‘terminate’ the Constitution
Regardless of the veracity of the assertion credited to Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth," research suggests that repetition can lead to people believing a lie. The power of repetition is why news organizations should avoid repeating the lie in a headline offering a fact check. From 2016-2020, news organizations engaged in … [Read more...] about Why news media should report that a former president wants to ‘terminate’ the Constitution
The Dutch ‘Zwarte Piet’ (Black Pete) Debate: Where it Stands Today
Today, December 5, is Sinterklaas Day in the Netherlands. It brings back many fond memories, but also prompts many questions. The very last Sinterklaas I enjoyed in the Netherlands was in the winter of 1956, on the eve of my departure to America. One final time I would watch St. Nicholas arrive by steamboat from Spain or from some far-off, exotic land. He would get on … [Read more...] about The Dutch ‘Zwarte Piet’ (Black Pete) Debate: Where it Stands Today
UN appeals for record high humanitarian funding even as donors struggle to cope
A record new $51.5 billion United Nations appeal for humanitarian funding in 2023 is ringing alarm bells about the world’s humanitarian needs. They are turning into a quicksand sucking in aid donors fighting to keep their heads above numerous crises including the Ukraine war. UN chief Antonio Guterres said the record funding requirement followed a “year of extremes” and was … [Read more...] about UN appeals for record high humanitarian funding even as donors struggle to cope
TRUMP DEMANDS “TERMINATION” OF CONSTITUTION AND BY PASSING ALL LAWS TO RESTORE HIM TO POWER
As Georgia voters are poised to decide who fills a Senate seat in what is seen as a critical and close election, former President Donald Trump is calling for the "termination" of the constution and the bypassing of all laws to restore him to power or hold a new election. This comes on the heels of Twitter owner Elon Musk's "I've got a story that'll but this town wide open" … [Read more...] about TRUMP DEMANDS “TERMINATION” OF CONSTITUTION AND BY PASSING ALL LAWS TO RESTORE HIM TO POWER
BIDEN AT AGE 80: HOW OLD IS TOO OLD?
On the campaign trail back in March 2020, Joe Biden said he viewed himself as merely “a bridge” to the next generation of Democratic leaders, whom he called “the future of this country.” By all indications, however, the president seems determined to extend his bridge construction deadline to 2028. He’s reportedly mapping plans for a re-election bid (“My intention is that I … [Read more...] about BIDEN AT AGE 80: HOW OLD IS TOO OLD?
TWITTER BIRD
Biden warns ‘silence is complicity’ after Kanye’s Hitler outburst
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - President Joe Biden Friday called on US political leaders to denounce anti-Semitism, days after Donald Trump hosted a well-known Holocaust denier and the rapper Kanye West -- whose virulent outbursts culminated this week with praise of Adolf Hitler. Biden's warning comes at a time of rising concern in the United States over a normalization of … [Read more...] about Biden warns ‘silence is complicity’ after Kanye’s Hitler outburst
Some on Twitter find Holocaust Museum is being removed from their Twitter Feeds
A funny thing happened to me on the way to checking my Twitter feed this morning. For some reason the United States Holocaust Museum vanished from my Twitter feed. But I didn't drop it. It just...vanished. And when I went to check its Twitter account, I found I was no longer following it. And then a second funny thing happened. When I posted about it disappearing from my … [Read more...] about Some on Twitter find Holocaust Museum is being removed from their Twitter Feeds
Quote of the Day: Jimmy Kimmel on Kayne West liking Hitler
Our Quote of the Day comes from comedian Jimmy Kimmel on Kayne West saying he likes Hitler: “I haven’t seen anything like this,” the late night host said. “We have a Black white supremacist running around… Let’s imagine this was another pop star. Imagine if it was Ariana Grande saying this stuff. We’d load her into a cannon and fire her into the ocean, right? But Kanye … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Jimmy Kimmel on Kayne West liking Hitler
UNAIDS finds women and children are at higher risk of HIV infection
The global fight against AIDS is morphing into battles to reduce inequalities women and children face especially in the key populations of poorer countries at high risk of being infected by the HIV virus that causes AIDS. World AIDS Day marked on December 1 of each year highlighted the rising new infections and continuing deaths in many parts of the world because of … [Read more...] about UNAIDS finds women and children are at higher risk of HIV infection
What would space aliens think of the Christmas holiday?
If space aliens were to visit planet Earth during December, then what would they think of the Christmas holiday? Well, you are about to find out. What follows is a Christmas story as told by a native of planet Melmac. Note: If you are biased against natives of planet Melmac -- or if you simply don't like humor posts -- then read no further. The first time that I … [Read more...] about What would space aliens think of the Christmas holiday?
Don’t Do It, Joe
So far, Joe Biden seems to have done a good job in his term as president, with the country deeply polarized and slim margins to work with in both Houses of Congress. Of course, others may disagree. But in either case, he should not run for a second term as president and should announce his intention soon to allow others to develop the traction necessary to be successful … [Read more...] about Don’t Do It, Joe
America’s Gun Culture Through the Eyes of a Veteran
“White and Black, gay and straight, old and young.” That is how Michael Wilson at the New York Times describes “the collection of the newly dead” arising from the three mass shootings that gripped the nation during the 11 days preceding Thanksgiving. The author paints a heartbreaking picture of the “fourteen people who did not know their last Thanksgiving was already behind … [Read more...] about America’s Gun Culture Through the Eyes of a Veteran